Category Archives: resume

Save the document with your first and last name. Can you imagine how many resumes recruiters receive named ‘resume’? Make it easy for them and guarantee that your resume gets in the hands of the right people, without getting lost. In addition, if you have a 2-page resume, add a header with your name on the second page. They may be printing it out, and there’s always a chance that pages could become separated.

When possible, save your resume as a PDF*. Appearances are everything, and you want to make the right first impression. Saving it as a PDF will preserve the formatting, since you don’t know how it will appear to your recipient. Issues can arise based on what email provider someone uses. Better to be sure, than to have your resume appear choppy or not as originally intended. *If you’re applying online to a position, you may need to submit your resume saved in Rich Text (RTF) Format.

Ditch the objective and add a Summary of Qualifications section. This can be 3-5 bullet points or a short paragraph that consolidates your top strengths and skill sets. You can easily tweak this to match the job description.

Use the job description as your guide and test. Take your basic resume as a starting point. Go through the job ad, bullet by bullet, to see if what you have written on your resume matches the employer’s desired qualifications and duties. Switch out words to mimic the ad, or use synonyms whenever possible. If there is too big of a mismatch, this may be a clue that the job is not a good fit for you and that you don’t have the right background to apply.

Remove your address and add your LinkedIn URL. The exception to this rule is if you’re relocating. In that case, add a line mentioning your move and the target date for when you will be at your new location.

** Bonus tip – To keep yourself even more organized, add the name of the company after your name. For example, JoeSmithAcmeCorpResume.pdf. This is especially helpful if you’re applying to multiple companies.

We are North America’s largest manufacturer of building products and materials. In North America we adopted our parent company name to become CRH Americas, Inc. But, the strength, quality and legacy of our Oldcastle brand remains in our product groups, Oldcastle Precast, Oldcastle Infrastructure and Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope®, as well as our Oldcastle Building Solutions team.

How is your resume looking these days? If you’re in job search mode, you’re likely very familiar with its status. If you aren’t, you should find the file, and take a look. It’s always important to review your resume and have it ready to go.

Start with some housekeeping
Is your address on there? Resumes no longer need to have your home address. In fact, it’s recommended to leave it off. Use that space to put your LinkedIn URL and your email address. Speaking of email, make sure the address you use is appropriate and not from an outdated or older provider (AOL, Hotmail, etc.)

Less is More
Hiring managers and recruiters review dozens, if not hundreds of resumes a day or week. A resume should not be jam packed with too much information. Highlight your accomplishments from each position, with a focus on anything that matches the position you’re applying for.

Customization counts
You can have one general resume to start from, but you need to customize each resume for the position. Smart candidates customize because they know it helps them get further in the process and is indicative of a serious job seeker.

Age-proof your information
Age discrimination can and does happen. If your degree was over 5 years ago, leave the graduation date off. You also don’t need to list positions older than ten years, unless directly related to the job you are applying for. Consider doing a combination chronological/functional resume and combining prior jobs to avoid calling attention to older dates of employment. For example:PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT
Prior ad agency experience/positions (freelance and full time) in communications with a focus on advertising, public relations and internal and crisis communications.

Get a second set of eyes
It’s easy to overlook typos when we create our own resume. Have a trusted friend or family member critique it for you. Does anything look out of place or read awkwardly?

Make sure it contains the right keywords
This is going to help you when you apply online, as each ATS (Applicant Tracking System) will look for keywords that match the job description.

Save your resume as a PDF
If you want to make sure the formatting will always appear as intended, save it as a PDF. Have two versions ready (PDF and word doc.) at all times.

Bonus tip
If you’re looking to land a position in another city/state, provide your anticipated move date. This will help clarify any confusion and hopefully keep you in consideration for the position.

We are North America’s largest manufacturer of building products and materials. In North America we adopted our parent company name to become CRH Americas, Inc. But, the strength, quality and legacy of our Oldcastle brand remains in our product groups, Oldcastle Precast, Oldcastle Infrastructure and Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope®, as well as our Oldcastle Building Solutions team.

If you’ve been looking for a job for awhile, you may be feeling discouraged. When is it going to be MY turn? The goal of any successful job search is to stack the odds in your favor, so you are the ‘lucky one’ chosen. Ask yourself these questions and be honest about the answers. They can reveal areas to improve upon in your overall job search strategy.

Are you doing your due diligence?
You may have read stories that reveal how quite a few people spend more time planning for a vacation than they do for their retirement. No surprise there – it’s fun to plan a vacation. Retirement planning or job searching – not so much. Nevertheless, it’s important to remain focused and dedicate yourself to important, not so fun things – like your job search. This means customizing every cover letter and resume to the job, researching employers prior to an interview, getting/prepping the right references, calling recruiters back and going outside your comfort zone when it comes to proactively networking.

Has your confidence, attitude and energy changed since you started searching?It’s completely understandable that your enthusiasm for the process has taken a hit, especially after more time goes by. However, this is not the time to show it. Even if you don’t feel energized and optimistic, you have to act like you are. Eating properly, getting exercise and creating a good support system (family/friends/fellow job seekers) can help boost your mood too.

Do you let rejection (i.e. not hearing back from an application, after an interview, etc.) get you down?It’s ok and normal to feel disappointed. The job search can be impersonal, unfair and frustrating. However, wallowing is your enemy. Allow yourself time to be mad or sad and then move on! Think of the job search like speed dating. You’re going from interview to interview, just like you would be going from date to date. Not every date results in a relationship, and not every interview results in a job.

Going through the interview process makes you better at interviewing. Don’t think of it as a waste of time – think of it as practice!

Progress and forward movement/momentum in the job search isn’t dependent on luck. It takes time and continual effort. Don’t give up. It may take longer than you had hoped for, but the right job is out there for you. And, always remember- the employer is the lucky one for making the decision to hire you.

P.S. If this post helped you or you think it can help others, please share.

Thank you for reading!

Photo credit: Quentin Ray: Unsplash

A version of this post, by our Social Media Specialist, also appears on LinkedIn.

Oldcastle is North America’s largest manufacturer of building products and materials. With more than 2,000 locations throughout North America, we are in constant pursuit of the next generation of successful decision makers, leaders and problem solvers. Learn more about joining the Oldcastle team HERE.

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” ― R. M. Rilke

As we turn the calendar page to a fresh New Year, are you resolving to do better with your diet, exercise plan or finances? Don’t forget about your career! January is a great time to turn over a new leaf – especially if your job search has stalled. These resolutions can get you on the right track in 2016.

1.) Commit to spending more time on job search activities

If you’re unemployed, you should devote at least the equivalent of a regular 40 hour work week to networking, researching job openings and applying to positions. If you’re employed but looking, commit to 2 hours a week for job searching (all done at home after regular work hours of course!).

2.) Schedule one networking event per month

This could range from going to a business presentation, attending a community business function or participating in a formal networking session. To find out about upcoming networking opportunities, check out business associations in your industry, the local newspaper (regular edition and business) – even your college career center (which can also be a great resource for alumni).

3.) Pick one job search tool to improve every other week

For example, January could be resumes and LinkedIn. Week one would involve an in-depth look at your resume – what’s working and what could use a little sprucing up. Get input from a friend and someone in your field. Week three could be making sure your LinkedIn profile accurately portrays your background. You could also vow to start adding more connections and liking, commenting and posting status updates on a regular basis.

4.) Incorporate a healthy lifestyle into your job search plan

Eating right, working out, getting adequate sleep and taking time for family and friends should not be separate from your job search. A healthy, rested mind and body will do wonders for your energy and productivity in the job search process.

5) Vow to be more patient this year

It’s easy to want that call for an interview NOW. However, that is not how the job search process works. In particular, when businesses are getting back into the swing of things in the new year, you can’t expect their timetable to equal yours. Just take a deep breath and keep moving forward with steps one through four. Getting yourself worked up and stressed out won’t do you any good. If you find your stress level rising, some good de-stressing ideas include: texting/calling someone, taking a walk, getting together with friends, going to a movie, watching a sitcom or reading a book/magazine.

Happy New Year & Good Luck – 2016 will be your best year yet!

Photo credit: DepositPhotos

A version of this post, by our Social Media Specialist, also appears on LinkedIn.

Oldcastle is North America’s largest manufacturer of building products and materials. With more than 2,000 locations throughout North America, we are in constant pursuit of the next generation of successful decision makers, leaders and problem solvers. Learn more about joining the Oldcastle team HERE.

If you do, know that you’re not alone. People who work in public relations face similar challenges. They send out dozens of pitches, and often don’t hear back. So, how can you stand out?Use PR Tactics To Get Past The Gatekeeper
Start Thinking Like A PR Person!

1) Follow the rulesMany public relations practitioners subscribe to an email service called Help A Reporter Out (HARO). Reporters and writers submit story ideas they ‘re working on and the types of sources/information they’re looking for. HARO then emails this list to over 45k+ people. Sources then respond to these queries with a pitch. If the pitch you send in to the reporter is off topic, you will be banned from the service. How you follow the directions can mean the difference between getting a great story or being left in the dust.

The same thing holds true for the job search process. So, follow directions! If you have to submit your resume online, do that first. After submitting your resume online, use other sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to see if you have any mutual connections that work at the company you’re targeting. Reach out to those folks to find out more about the company, and to see if they would be willing to pass your resume along.

2) Be a stickler for researchIn PR, whenever you are doing research for a pitch, it pays off to not only research the publication, but also the writer/reporter. You want to know what kind of stories they cover so you can angle your pitch. For the job seeker, you can use search engines like Google, your social media accounts and people you know to find out as much as you can about the company you’re targeting and, down the line, the person you’re interviewing with. If you want to take it a step further, set up a Google Alert or Mention account to monitor the company. These alerts tell you whenever the business is mentioned in the news or online. This information not only comes in handy when you write your resume and cover letter, it also helps you during the interview process.

3) Stop selling and start story tellingThis is a big one! Many clients say – “I need press- submit this story on how great we are.” Guess what? The media and the employer don’t care that you’re a wonderful person or that your company is the best. The media cares about stories for their particular audience, and your future employer cares about one story – how you can make their company better and more efficient. Get this across to them in a compelling, creative way and you’re golden.

4) Acknowledge that it’s a numbers game and keep submittingNot every pitch is going to get picked up. Does that mean it was a bad pitch? Not at all. Someone else may have had a better pitch or one that most closely fit what the reporter was looking for.

As a job seeker, go into the search knowing that not every resume submitted will result in an interview. This does not mean that you shouldn’t give it your best effort.

Your resume, cover letter and job search approach will get better too. If you’ve given it your best effort, then there is no reason to give up or let discouragement get you down. Remember too, there are often other factors at hand. The company could have had a strong internal candidate or referral candidate. You just never know. The important thing is to keep trying.

A version of this post, by our Social Media Specialist, originally appeared on LinkedIn.

Photo credit: Chalk artwork, Perry Chalk Festival

Oldcastle is North America’s largest manufacturer of building products and materials. With more than 2,000 locations throughout North America, we are in constant pursuit of the next generation of successful decision makers, leaders and problem solvers. Learn more about joining the Oldcastle team HERE.

Success depends upon previous preparation, and withoutsuch preparation there is sure to be failure.
-Confucius

Whether you’ve been at your job two years or twenty, there is always the possibility of being let go. So, what steps can you take to be prepared?

1) Have an updated resume on hand at all times A layoff is a traumatic life event. It takes time to process the shock and emotions and start your search. If you have your resume complete, that means you are at least initially prepared for the job search journey. Not only that, if you happen to be a part of a mass layoff, you’ll be one step ahead of your competition. Need some help on starting or updating your resume? Check out thisarticle.

2) Make it a priority to check in on LinkedIn a few times a week.
It doesn’t take much time to post a status update and like or comment on what your connections are up to. Recruiters often see a flurry of activity on LinkedIn from people who have just been let go. It makes sense that you spend more time on LinkedIn when you have the day to job search. BUT,connections are better made before you need them.Networking is a give and take, and desperation never comes off as appealing. Bonus points if you get or give recommendations before you need them. Note – don’t go overboard with this one. When you’re actually updating your page, keep the privacy settings on so people can’t see what updates you’re making. You don’t want to make your current employer suspicious.

3) Scan the online job postings at least once a weekMake it a habit to know what’s out there. You’ll start to see hiring trends. Are there certain companies who seem to be on the upswing? The job listings will reflect that. You’ll also see some companies post the same job within the same year. Is this a clue they experience high turnover? If you hadn’t been monitoring the job search sites on a frequent basis, you would never know that position had just recently been filled.

4) Stay current on local business news
It doesn’t take much time to scan the business section of the local paper (online or hard copy) or catch the local news to stay informed on what businesses are growing in your community.

5) Commit to one networking event a quarterEvery field/industry has meetings and other events. The event doesn’t have to be networking focused. A training or speaking event can also provide opportunities to meet people. Don’t like to network? Read thisarticle for some networking tips.

6) Start thinking about who you would use for references
While submitting references is usually the last part of the job search process, there are certain applications that require them upfront. Tread carefully on this step. You don’t want to ask anyone from your current job yet. You could approach a boss from a prior position to be one of your references. The point of this step is just to get you thinking about who you could use if needed. Thisarticlegives additional advice on making the most of your references.

7) Be smart about that safety cushionThe common sentiment is to have 6 months of readily available cash for emergencies. A layoff clearly counts as an emergency. You may or may not get a severance package, and unemployment only goes so far. Yes, the discipline and sacrifice to have this monetary reserve is not easy. Child rearing expenses, car/home repairs and life necessities come first. Start by setting aside twenty dollars a week. Small amounts add up over time. Here’s anarticleon creating a financial safety net if you need a little nudge in the right direction.

Being job search ready at all times does not really take that much additional time or effort. While you may be fortunate enough to never experience a layoff, this proactive approach will give you peace of mind and the tools you need to land on your feet.

Photo credit: Unsplash

This post, by our Social Media Specialist, originally appeared on LinkedIn.

Oldcastle is North America’s largest manufacturer of building products and materials. With more than 2,000 locations throughout North America, we are in constant pursuit of the next generation of successful decision makers, leaders and problem solvers. Learn more about joining the Oldcastle team HERE.

Oldcastle is North America’s largest manufacturer of building products and materials. With more than 2,000 locations throughout North America, we are in constant pursuit of the next generation of successful decision makers, leaders and problem solvers. Learn more about joining the Oldcastle team HERE.

There are a lot of questions out there about writing resumes. One page or two? Functional or chronological? Our recruiters look at dozens of resumes a day, so they’ve seen it all. Members of this team spoke to college students recently about resume writing.

Here’s What You Need To Know1) Font – Make sure the font you use is something simple and easy to read. Don’t get too creative or crazy. Folks in advertising and marketing fields have some leeway here. Whatever font you do use, don’t make it too small! If you have to drastically decrease the font size, it’s time to go to another page.

2) Objective/Summary
There are differing views on this one. Don’t make your summary too broad. Also, red flags go up if your objective says one thing, but all your supporting bullets and experience don’t lead to that role. If they don’t match, that is an indicator that the position may not be one you are qualified for or should pursue.

“If you have been in accounting for 15 years, I am going to assume you want an accounting role. If you have been in accounting for 15 years and you want to change careers, I would want that in an objective. I do think an objective is valuable for those just starting a career. Other than that, I don’t give them much value.”
– Recruiting Office Staffing Operations Manager

3) Entry Level positions – less is more
Employers know that graduating seniors don’t have a lot of experience. Don’t add fluff just to fill space. Internship, co-op or volunteer work always looks great on a resume. Many students tend to add coursework taken. Listing a few courses is fine, especially if they are directly related to the job you want. Don’t over-do it though. We don’t need your entire transcript.

4) Keywords – a must, especially for technical fields
Recruiters search LinkedIn and resume databases by keyword. If you don’t have keywords within your bullet points, you may not come up in search.

5) Flow – put the most recent/relevant experience at the top
Always start with the most recent experience and work backward. Show your resume to a relative or friend. How does it read? It should flow nicely. They should be able to tell what kind of job you’re going for.

6) Contact information – always include your LinkedIN profile
Not on LinkedIn? You need to be! LinkedIn is becoming increasingly more important for job seekers and employers. Make sure your profile is robust AND matches the tone of your resume. If you customize your resume too much and don’t do the same to your LinkedIn profile, it can appear that you’re not sure exactly what kind of job you want – or, even worse, that you’re not qualified for it.

7) Grammar/Spelling – Triple check for errors. Get a second or third set of eyes to review your resume. Spell check won’t catch every error.

8) Cover letters are important – especially for entry level job seekers
There are various opinions on this one. Even if that particular recruiter or hiring manager doesn’t place a big emphasis on them, do you really want to take that chance? Always present yourself in the best light, and that includes a well written cover letter. This is your chance to really show why you should be called in for the interview. Review the job description and use that as a basis to explain why you match what the employer is looking for. Not a good writer? There are many resources out there with samples and advice to help you write a good cover letter.

9) Focus on achievements/accomplishments – avoid a laundry list of tasks
Recruiters read A LOT of resumes. After awhile, they can all start to blend together. Imagine seeing resume after resume with what basically amounts to a job description with a list of responsibilities. We don’t want to know your day-to-day tasks! We want to know how you performed. You can show this by translating those duties into accomplishments. We can’t emphasize this enough! To really stand out, you need to use facts like percentages and statistics to show how you made a difference at your employer. Did you increase sales by 25% in six months? Use that as one of your bullet points!

10) Don’t be afraid to go to two pagesDo you have to drastically reduce the size of your font to get everything on one page? This is a sign that you need to go to the second page. It is perfectly acceptable to have a two-page resume. Your experience and work history will dictate what you need to do. People switch jobs more often during the course of their career than they ever did before. If you need more room to show this career progression, take it!

The competition for jobs has never been more fierce. Make sure you are rising to the challenge by using these tips to make your resume the best that it can be!

Passive candidate:a currently employed individual who isn’t actively seeking another job, but would leave if the right opportunity arose.

Why do employers seek out these candidates?

According to Chris Garrie, Vice President of Recruitment for theOldcastle Recruiting Office in Rochester, “passive candidates are happy and successful in their current position. Generally, they tend to be more loyal and have a higher potential of being successful in a new role. They tend to be more selective, only pursuing opportunities that are of great interest. In contrast, active job seekers who are out of work need to get a job quickly.”

4 Tips For Passive Candidates:
1) Be receptive to recruiters
Unfortunately, there is a stigma when it comes to recruiters. If recruiters contact you, call or e-mail them back! You have nothing to lose. Even if the opening is not something you want, you never know what that recruiter will come across in the future. A good recruiter knows who they are looking for and won’t waste your time if there is not a mutual fit. Keep those lines of communication open!

2) Don’t assume your current job is going to last foreverThings can change in an instant, despite tenure or great work performance. Even the most stable and successful companies experience downturns. Better to be sought after while you’re employed, than to start a job search without a steady income or job to fall back on.

3) Make sure your resume and your LinkedIn profile are up-to-dateYou can be a great passive candidate, but recruiters won’t reach out if they can’t find you! Your profile and resume should contain the right job title and keywords for your industry AND showcasequantifiablequalifications. Don’t just list job duties. Demonstrate how you helped increase sales, saved money or improved efficiency levels for your current employer. Numbers, stats and percentages really help you stand out.

4) Don’t be overconfidentPassive candidates DO have an added advantage in the job search process, but it’s no guarantee you will get the job. In the end, it still boils down to a combination of skills, personality and company/cultural fit. Make the most of your passive status, but remember – there are many other passive candidates out there besides you!

In general, passive job seekers have an edge because they can always turn down an opportunity, whereas the unemployed job seeker may not have the same luxury. While this may not be fair, it is a reality for job seekers. If you have any inkling that things are not going well at work for you or your company, put those feelers out. You are in a far better position to find a better job and negotiate for a better salary when you’re a passive candidate.

Meta

Imagine a company capable of providing the modern building materials needed to build our homes, schools, communities, even the bridges and highways to get you there. We are CRH Americas, North America’s largest manufacturer of building products.
In North America we adopted our parent company name to become CRH Americas, Inc. But, the strength, quality and legacy of our Oldcastle brand remains in our product groups, Oldcastle Precast, Oldcastle Architectural and Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope®, as well as our Oldcastle Building Solutions team.
At CRH Americas, we do more than manufacture products. We partner with our customers, design-build firms, construction professionals and owners to simplify the way we build and provide end to end solutions through our vertically integrated channels. We have the largest manufacturing footprint, the greatest product breadth, and lead many of the categories we work in. If you are looking to simplify the construction process, CRH Americas can help you get there.
CRH Americas is the North American arm of CRH, plc, a leading global diversified building materials group with over 85,000 employees in 32 countries around the world.